Master Yuan, start!

A few minutes later, Yuan Xiangcheng finally ended the conversation with Arthur Morgan. In fact, he didn't say much, but Yuan Xiangcheng just asked about Arthur Morgan's background.

After learning that the person was from California, Yuan Xiangcheng became even more interested in him.

The Red Dead Redemption actually came to the late Qing Dynasty.

"Wei Ting, are you done?" Yiliang and the other man stopped talking and hurried forward to ask.

"That's all." Yuan Xiangcheng replied indifferently.

"In that case, then this king will announce the decree." Yi Liao spread out the scroll and was about to read it.

The commander of the four Jiashen armies on the side hurriedly knelt down to receive the order. Arthur Morgan looked left and right, and also knelt on one knee to show his respect.

However, Yuan Xiangcheng was not moved at all, and looked at Yi Li quietly with cold eyes.

Seeing Yuan Xiangcheng so calm, Wang Zhanyuan, who was standing behind him and feeling a little at a loss, also calmed down and followed the chief instructor's lead.

Yi Liangzhuang was quite helpless, and finally put away the imperial edict: "Forget it, Wei Ting, since that is the case, I will not repeat it one by one. Just convey the Queen Mother's intention."

Song Qing and others were still kneeling, but Yuan Shikai remained unmoved.

"Before she left, the Queen Mother asked me to tell Yuan Xiangcheng that if he could send another telegram to withdraw the army to Korea, I would make him the King of Korea forever, and the throne would be passed down to his descendants.

Moreover, they can meet the emperor without bowing, have their own royal army, and do not need to go to the capital to pay homage. They only need to guard the capital from Korea."

Chapter 138 I will forget myself and live up to the people

Divide the land and seal the borders to forever control Korea!

Song Qing and others raised their heads in disbelief. They didn't expect that while they were defending Shanhaiguan and waiting for a battle, the Queen Mother had surrendered before the battle!

Is there such a ruler in the world?

Arthur Morgan, standing by, had already taken out his paintbrush and was sketching the current scene inside the house while mentally planning the front-page headline for the next issue of the North China Herald.

The rebels were approaching the capital, and the government was defeated. It decided to tempt the rebel leader with the throne.

It has been a long time since the Western world saw such a God-given protagonist. The last one so similar was Napoleon 100 years ago!

As for the commanders of the three towns of the Eighth National Defense Army after Yuan Jiu's death, after hearing that Korea would confer the title of king and hereditary succession, they all clenched their fists, especially Wang Zhanyuan.

Isn't the purpose of joining the army and fighting wars for land and money?

After fighting the world with the chief instructor for so long, are we finally going to have a paradise of our own?

"Weiting, this imperial edict is for you. How about it? Do you accept it?" Yi Liao pretended to be Yuan Xiangcheng.

However, Yuan Xiangcheng still stood there, not moving a step.

Seeing that Yuan Xiangcheng still did not move, Yi Lie Xing Ou Bao could not help but speak again:

"Weiting, the last time the Eight Banners entered the Central Plains, war broke out everywhere in the Central Plains. The Chuang, Xian, and Ming factions divided the country, and it took several years to pacify it.

This time, when the National Defense Army entered the pass, the governors and governors-general of various parts of Jiangnan were watching covetously. Could it be that Wei Ting wanted to let the world be once again filled with feudal lords?

The present is not like the old Ming Dynasty. The foreigners are watching us. If we are divided, when will we be able to unite again?

We must not allow the tragedy of Yipianshi to happen again and let the foreigners gain the advantage! "

Hearing Yilin's words, Yuan Xiangcheng rolled his eyes and looked at Yili. Yuan Xiangcheng seemed to be touched and finally took a step forward.

Then, Yuan Xiangcheng was in disbelief.

Wang Zhanyuan was excited.

Jin Weidong and Duan Zhigui were a little puzzled.

And Yi Liao thought that he had received the imperial edict.

"It's all over, Emperor Guangxu, the Qing Dynasty is completely finished!"

Chenghou saw Yuan Xiangcheng holding the imperial edict in his hand, trembling all over, and could not help but close his eyes.

"Alright, the Chief Instructor's plan has been fulfilled!" Wang Zhanyuan couldn't help but whisper, causing Jin Weidong and Duan Zhigui beside him to frown. This seemed to be different from what the Chief Instructor had taught us, and Jin and Duan were puzzled.

However, the chief instructor must have his own reasons for doing this, after all, he is the chief instructor. Jin and Duan still chose to believe in Yuan Xiangcheng unconditionally.

Yi Liangzhuang naturally laughed and clapped his hands, and quickly said to Yuan Xiangcheng: "Weiting, those who know the current situation should act accordingly."

Before he could finish his words, Yuan Xiangcheng took the imperial edict and pulled it hard with both hands.

Sizzle!

The imperial edict made of yellow silk was instantly torn into two pieces!

"A piece of stone! How dare you Manchus say a piece of stone!" Yuan Xiangcheng threw the imperial edict on the ground and stepped heavily on it.

Yuan Xiangcheng spat heavily at the imperial edict: "At the beginning of the country, the Eight Banners entered the pass and killed countless talents to pacify the world. Now that I, Yuan Xiangcheng, have entered the pass, how could I do something that would anger heaven and people?

Now that you Manchus are in power, instead of focusing on saving the country, you are fighting among yourselves. Who is fighting among yourselves and who is seeking secession?

You're trying to tempt me with the throne, bah! I despise the throne as dirt!"

When Song Qing, Liu Shengxiu, Jiang Guiti and other Han officials heard Yuan Xiangcheng's blunt accusations against the Manchus, they showed strange looks in their eyes.

Jin Weidong and Duan Zhigui also showed an expression of "as expected". They thought to themselves that the chief instructor is the chief instructor. He asked people to stretch their faces over and then hit them. It sounded really loud.

Wang Zhanyuan did not expect that Yuan Shikai would tear up the imperial edict. For a moment, his dream of becoming the king of Korea was shattered. He looked a little lonely, but he still chose to wait and see what happened.

Arthur Morgan practically jumped for joy. Oh God! What did I see? The general personally tore up the imperial edict issued by the Queen Mother, which was comparable to Napoleon personally crowning himself.

He quickly changed to a new piece of drawing paper and tried his best to record the scene of tearing up the imperial edict with his hands. The tip of the pen moved so fast that it seemed as if it would break in the next second.

Xiang Cheng took it in a hurry, and then tore it into pieces.

A moment later, Yi Liaoyuan's face turned purple with anger, and he said angrily:

"Okay, okay, Yuan Xiangcheng, you really don't want to accept my toast!"

"Humph, this toast has cost so much money and sweat of the people. Drink it yourself!" Yuan Xiangcheng turned away.

"let's go!"

Seeing Yuan Xiangcheng preparing to leave, Cheng Hou, Jin, Duan, and Wang, who were in the room, hurried to follow him.

The moon was high in the sky, and it was already night. In the biting cold wind, Song Qing felt a sense of desolation as he looked at the backs of Yuan Xiangcheng and his group.

"Wait!" Yiliang yelled.

Hearing Yi Lianzun's order to stop, the Qing army guards outside the house hurriedly blocked the gate of the courtyard. Seeing this, the dozens of guards who followed Yuan Shikai also loaded their rifles and were ready to shoot at any time.

"Yuan Xiangcheng, I'll ask you again, are you really unwilling to withdraw your troops?!" Yiliangzhang asked, looking into Xiangcheng's eyes.

"As the world falls, how can people with lofty ideals sit idly by?" Yuan Shikai refused to give in.

"Okay, okay, Daxing'a, set off the rocket!" Yi Liehuang gave the order, and the commander of the Jiashen Central Army, Daxing'a, took out an ancient firework half a person's height from the house.

As he lit the tinder, there was a chirp!

The rocket flew straight into the sky, creating a dazzling display of fireworks. The National Defense Army camp and the Shanhaiguan city wall in the distance were clearly visible.

Yuan Xiangcheng stood in the courtyard and looked up, wondering whether Yi Lian had surrendered or not.

"boom!"

Just as the fireworks in the sky dissipated, a few loud noises like muffled thunder were heard from the east!

"Is it a naval gun?!" Yuan Xiangcheng turned his head and looked at Yi Li.

"Yuan Xiangcheng, with these four huge ironclad ships, let's see how you can break through Shanhaiguan!"

Arthur Morgan's bag was already full of papers, but when he saw the fireworks exploding, he couldn't help but pick up the broken pen and use simple strokes to describe the scene in front of him.

It’s so wonderful, a hundred times more wonderful than Shakespeare’s plays!

Chenghou looked embarrassed. He didn't expect that the court had persuaded Li Hongzhang to send four warships of the South China Sea Fleet to fight.

Shanhaiguan is only more than ten miles away from the sea, and the Dingyuan ship's maximum range can reach nearly 20 miles. How can the National Defense Army charge towards Shanhaiguan under the threat of hundreds of millimeters of naval guns?

He looked at Yuan Xiangcheng anxiously, but did not see any panic on his face. Not only Yuan Xiangcheng, but the commanders of the three towns, Jin, Duan, and Wang, also did not seem worried at all.

Yiliang took in the expressions of the others and said confidently, "Yuan Xiangcheng, I will tell you one last time, if you withdraw your troops, you will immediately seize the throne of Korea. Will you withdraw or not?

Yuan Xiangcheng, the Qing Dynasty has treated you well, and the Empress Dowager has treated you well. How could you harm the world for your own selfish desires?

Under the gaze of the people in the courtyard, Yuan Xiangcheng refused to give in: "The people are on my side, and the will of heaven cannot be disobeyed. I am not entering the pass for the emperor, but for the people of the world!"

Yuan Xiangcheng's eyes were sharp, and then he said a wise saying that has been remembered by people all over the world for a hundred years.

"I will be selfless and live up to the people!"

Upon hearing this, Yi Lian laughed in anger: "Well, well, you entered the pass for the people of the world, well, you did not let the people down."

Just when Chenghou thought Yilao Qianhuang was confused, he said something that made Chenghou feel as if his heart had fallen into an icy cave.

"2 newly-formed Hunan troops have arrived at Yongping Prefecture, just behind Shanhaiguan. With 4 Jiashen troops, 2 newly-formed Hunan troops, and the South China Sea Fleet flanking us, I wonder how you, Yuan Xiangcheng, can take Shanhaiguan!"

When these words were spoken, not only Yuan Xiangcheng and his entourage, but even Song Qing was surprised.

When did Zeng Guoquan's 2 newly formed Hunan troops arrive? Hadn't they been stationed in Hejian Prefecture south of Zhili?

Yuan Xiangcheng looked at Yi Li with contempt and without saying a word, he walked out of the house and mounted his horse.

Yi Lianre and Si Ke were walking towards the distant camp. When their figures became long and lingering in the moonlight, Yuan Xiangcheng's voice came faintly:

"Prince Qing, do the Eight Banners only know how to go through Shanhaiguan when entering the Pass?"

Song Qing and the others suddenly came to their senses upon hearing this, and looked towards the northwest horizon in fear.

Pulling up the view, under the cover of night, Duan Qirui, Feng Guozhang and others are rushing towards Xifengkou and Gubeikou along the remaining range of Yanshan Mountain.

Since we want to follow the Eight Banners' example and enter the Pass, we must carry it out to the end.

Huang Taiji, your tactics are really useful, and they will be even better if you use them on your descendants!

Chapter 139 Xiang Yuan's Encounter

On March 1890, 3, late at night on the second day of the second month of the sixteenth year of the reign of Emperor Guangxu, a cannon shot broke the tranquility of Xifengkou Pass that had lasted for hundreds of years.

In the long Yanshan Mountains, on the mountain trails, nine rows of National Defense Army soldiers marched forward in a long line.

At that time, Xifengkou was still a dangerous place and had not sunk to the bottom of the reservoir like in later generations. It was one of the five main trade routes connecting the interior and Outer Mongolia.

The Manchu Qing Dynasty set up an inn here, extending all the way from the edge of the Great Wall to the Jirim League in eastern Inner Mongolia, which is Tongliao in later generations.

The main force was still on the way, but some of the Wehrmacht troops who arrived earlier had already set up mountain artillery.

The soldiers raised their thumbs and gestured back and forth towards Xifengkou not far away, looking for the best shooting angle.